A Labour MP has called for an investigation into Knight Frank after the firm distributed leaflets entitled “Mansion tax explained” in marginal London constituencies.
Steve Pound, MP for Ealing North, claims the leaflets breach electoral law because Knight Frank is not signed up to the Electoral Commission.
But the agent says the leaflet – distributed in Battersea and Westminster North, Wandsworth and other areas – is simply a factual assessment of the proposed tax and is not an attempt to influence voters.
Liam Bailey, global head of research at Knight Frank, said: “We have never taken a view on this because we are not campaign or political experts. What we’ve always been interested in is what these proposals mean for the market.”
Last year, Knight Frank was shortlisted in the Public Affairs Awards for its “Campaign to inform the debate on the mansion tax”.
Pound said: “The police must establish whether Knight Frank is trying to influence local campaigns. If so, it must be regulated accordingly.”
